An interesting article appeared in the Globe and Mail yesterday, an article that suggested Hockey Night in Canada’s problems with the NHL go well beyond the Don Cherry/Brian Burke feud.

According to Bruce Dowbiggin, the trouble goes back to that Board of Governors meeting in Ottawa during the all-star weekend, and the specific complaints are not surprising. Let’s go through a few of them.

Burke delivered a blistering critique of [Hockey Night in Canada’s treatment of him and then-coach Ron Wilson.

This isn’t news; we’ve known about the Cherry/Burke problems going back to that point of the season. CBC has a unique arrangement with Toronto – most rights-holders act to build up rather than to tear down the team they cover (Sportsnet in particular takes great pains to cast the teams it covers regionally in a favorable light) – but Cherry says (more or less) what he wants to, and he’s been hammering away on Burke/Wilson for a long time.

But while Toronto isn’t happy, other teams are dissatisfied for a familiar reason: they’re sick of Toronto games.

Other Canadian teams, including the Vancouver Canucks and Ottawa Senators, blasted the network for the Toronto-centric nature of the program…

If you’re a non-Maple Leafs fan, the odds are good that you’ve complained about the number of Leafs games on HNIC. It’s understandable – the Leafs are the biggest television draw on a national level – but also understandable is the frustration felt by fans. The frustration for teams must be even higher, though – HNIC is a rare opportunity for teams to build a market nationally, and Toronto gets the bulk of those opportunities. Given the Leafs’ status the last few years as a non-playoff team while other clubs have had success, it must be grating for a competent team like Vancouver to see the bulk of the editorial attention going the way of the Maple Leafs.

Other Canadian teams, including the Vancouver Canucks and Ottawa Senators… complained about deteriorating journalistic standards.

From a personal perspective, this is the big one. It really feels like one of the things that disappeared with the ‘New NHL’ post-lockout was CBC’s place as Canada’s hockey leader. To be sure, there are still strong points – the Hughson/Simpson tandem do a good job calling games, Scott Oake is the same as he ever was, and Elliotte Friedman is one of the better commentators around – but it’s difficult not to look at the current state of the program and not finding it lacking in comparison to how it used to be.

The loss of Chris Cuthbert to TSN during the lockout was huge; a good play-by-play man can cover for a lot of colour guy sins and CBC hasn’t had a strong option for the later game since Hughson was promoted to the early game (which is probably a better fit for Hughson anyway, given his perceived sympathy to the Canucks after years of covering them for Sportsnet). Don Cherry’s gradual slide into incoherence is another major problem; as Ellen Etchingham noted in her brilliant piece on the man, eventually “broadcast quality will do what years of protest letters couldn’t: force Don Cherry into retirement.” CBC lacks a natural candidate to take his place; there simply isn’t a commentator around with the same force of personality as Cherry.

Finally, despite the clout that HNIC should have as an institution, it finds itself rapidly falling behind TSN in terms of its ability to break and discuss news.

The league’s current deal with CBC ends in 2014.

Jonathan Willis is a freelance writer.
He currently works for Oilers Nation, Sportsnet, the Edmonton Journal and Bleacher Report.
He's co-written three books and worked for myriad websites, including Grantland, ESPN, The Score, and Hockey Prospectus. He was previously the founder and managing editor of Copper & Blue.

My only beef is too darn much Toronto. I PVR the 1st intermission just to listen to Cherry. Nobody speaks their mind anymore and no one stands up for tradition. Everyone is PC this and PC that. I don't support hatred but I do support saying what you believe especially if it is support of someone (i.e Canadian hard working hockey players). Burke does his ranting too but I'm firmly on Team Cheery for this tiff. Then again, this whole soap opera wouldn't even exist without the center of the universe. I'm so confused. :-O

HNIC is good for one thing....every Saturday night I know that at least one of my favorite teams is playing on TV......The Edmonton Oilers or my other favorite two teams.....whoever is playing the Leafs or whoever is playing the Flames. A Calgary Toronto game = movie night.

Unless the Oilers are on, I pretty much don't care for HNIC. They let the hockey theme go a few years back and I can't really stand the new song. Used to love Grapes, now he just seems like a rambling senile old man. And when the Oilers DO play the late game, it's absolutely dreadful listening to Kevin Weekes call games... With the loss of Jeff Marek and Scott Morrison, the only thing I find redeeming at this point is Elliot Friedman, who will probably end up on TSN or Sportsnet.

Grapes is one of the best of all time! CBC needs more of Don and less of Hrudey. IMO I cannot stand Eliotte Friedmann, when the guy talks you can tell he has never played the game and has little to no understanding of it.

HNIC is the old Oak tree. Once a symbol of power and stability, now hollow and only a shell of it's former self.

I like Don, I like that he says what he wants. I could live with him doing his thing for as long as he wants. That said, stop Weekes on the late game. I don't even think he knows what he's doing out there. Last year the late game wasnt even in HD. The camera angles aren't even done well anymore.

And screw Toronto. I get it, but screw them.

I kind of figured the HNIC ship was sinking when they couldn't even retain the rights to their own Theme Music because they didn't want to pay the lady who owns it what was rightfully hers. Bad form.

I think you hit the nail on the head, Jonathan. CBC's biggest problem is the lack of on-air talent, both up-and-coming and current. What "talent" they have is either boring or so full of Homerism that they're too painful to listen to, and there is no push from below for the current teams to feel the pressure of younger blood looking to make a name for themselves on the program. Case in point, I've always liked Don Cherry, but where is his replacement? Mad Mike?

It's shameful that a national institution such as Hockey Night in Canada has regressed to this point. I think when they did not pony up the cash to keep the original music was the start of the end for this once-proud broadcast franchise. Get out your forks; soon it will be time to stick them in Hockey Night in Canada.

I have a feeling after 2014, CTV may take over from CBC for the HNIC games. Put Gord Miller/Ray Ferraro on th early game and then Chris Cuthbert/Mike Johnson on the late game. TSN's intermission line-up is already top-notch, and they could hire some old CBC guys like Hughson and or Simpson to shore up the broadcast quality.

The only thing that might prevent this is CTV's reluctance to do the playoffs every night for two months. They have a sold line-up of American reality shows that they might not want to give up on for that substantial period of time.

The reason I say CTV over TSN is because I think the NHL would want it on a channel everyone (?) gets, rather than a specialty channel like TSN.

...Doug MacLean @ Sportsnet...the guy is a beauty, a former head coach that went to a SC Final (Lost) and is as 'folksy' and 'non-confrontational' as anyone...and a PEI native that is as Canadian as Cherry ever was ... Don Cherry will make only a few more gaffs until CBC will take him off the air citing political differences with management and the wider Toronto fan base...Don Cherry needs to step aside and make room for MacLean & MacLean ...

Losing HNIC would be terrible. It's way more than a sports broadcast- It's a part of our National Heritage. To use (twist) a Burkism, CBC 'is a lamp-post that holds up the drunks.' TSN and Sportsnet are plastic facsimiles of an original cast. Saturday night is HNIC in my house. Always will be.

Yes, only on a publicly-funded network would Kevin Weeks still have a job. And being out west we get beaten over the head with this goalie-centric has-been.

I understand his bias. It's human nature to be biased. But I think I would be more sympathetic if he was any good as a pro goalie. He was a fringe NHLer and he's a fringe color-commentator. And we see him every Saturday. (Yay)

I used to complain quite a bit about the entitlement of the Leafs and the ridiculous support of the CBC. But I can now watch every single Oilers game, spread across multiple channel without paying any more for cable/satellite than normal. Screw the CBC. Screw the Leafs. I really don't care anymore.

Despite that, I still love the article, and only wish you could have tied the Canadian tax dollar into it somehow, Willis.

How stupid are the other commenters? "CBC should have paid up for the Hockey Song rights." Dipstick brings up a salient point, and the ONLY point that matters. The CBC is propped up by tax dollars. $1.1 Billion dollar bailouts annually. I will always enjoy and respect the tradition behind Hockey Night In Canada, but it has gotten to the point where it is the only watchable show on the network. I'm not overly political, but I work in the oil patch like most Albertans and hold relatively conservative values. To see the absolute leftist and pro Eastern Canada coverage by a tax-funded organization is an abomination.

Maybe CBC can have a PPV. Don Cherry and
K Lowe vs Brian Burke and a partner of his choice. No holds barred. The losing team to retire from the hockey business. Being so conditioned to a good loss we might even hope for a double disqualification.

Doug MacLean is also awful. Sportsnet literally has the worst on-air talent in all of Canada. Treehouse TV has them beat. TSN kills it, half of CBC is great, the other half have pictures of CBC execs and goats doing dirty things. Grapes is an institution. If you don't like him, don't watch. It's pretty easy to avoid, but you all tune in, even if you hate him.

I used to complain quite a bit about the entitlement of the Leafs and the ridiculous support of the CBC. But I can now watch every single Oilers game, spread across multiple channel without paying any more for cable/satellite than normal. Screw the CBC. Screw the Leafs. I really don't care anymore.

Despite that, I still love the article, and only wish you could have tied the Canadian tax dollar into it somehow, Willis.

I have a feeling after 2014, CTV may take over from CBC for the HNIC games. Put Gord Miller/Ray Ferraro on th early game and then Chris Cuthbert/Mike Johnson on the late game. TSN's intermission line-up is already top-notch, and they could hire some old CBC guys like Hughson and or Simpson to shore up the broadcast quality.

The only thing that might prevent this is CTV's reluctance to do the playoffs every night for two months. They have a sold line-up of American reality shows that they might not want to give up on for that substantial period of time.

The reason I say CTV over TSN is because I think the NHL would want it on a channel everyone (?) gets, rather than a specialty channel like TSN.

Tsn used to be a specaity channel.....they are included in the "basic" package with most cable networks these days.

I love the Don, but he's not been a commentator for some time. I see him as more of a comedian. I want commentary I listen to Elliott Friedman or Bob McKenzie or Pierre LeBrun.

CBC has slipped for some time. I tune in for The Don's address to the hockey nationality week, and the Hotstove. The late broadcast is usually aweful, Lee makes me wanna poor acid in my ears. Hrudey is livable, but PJ. Stock makes me wanna listen to Pierre MaGuire.

TSN does a great job with analysts. Bobby Mac is awesome, but all the ex hockey players from Ward to McLennan,, and ex coaches like Torts to Mac T have been good over the years. They have taken CBC's lunch and their eating it too.

Brian Burke has nothing better to do than go to Don Cherry's bosses at the CBC to get him fired. That's a joke. Why do GM's fire head coaches? To make up for their own shortcomings. The reality is Burke still doesn't have the personnel to get his team into the playoffs. Kessel and Lupul alone can't do it. Connolly and Lombardi have disappointed combining only for 43 points.

I think HNIC has adapted fairly well given the losses of their trademark song, and the loss of Chris Cuthbert.

Fact is everyone wants to work for TSN, Pierre LeBrun and Steve Kouleas left the Score. More people leave CBC to go to TSN than vice versa.

hope not. Their both attention seeking blowhards, but Don is at least lovable. Burke is a grumpy old man. My wife barely watches hockey, but she won't miss the Don. Burke does not have that attractive quality and could never fill Don's shoes.

Oh yeah, CBC's biggest prob. Is Bob Cole. No offence to Bob, but people have tuned him out for some time.

Thank you! I was gonna bring up CBCs biggest problem but you beat me to it, this man has been a bumbling idiot from before the lockout and has become worse since. For the 5-10mins or so that I do tune into a week mostly during the commercials of my regular programming(if the Oilers aren't playing) I am simply astounded that this man is still on the air, I mean he doesn't even really call the games anymore, he's always ten seconds behind and bumbling something about nothing like an old man. It's truly unbelievable that he's on a national stage......publicly funding

I hate CBC's obsession with Toronto as much as the next fan but there is also another side to the story.

I believe it was back in the 80's that there wasn't a station out there that wanted to carry Canadian hockey games. It was CBC that stepped up and accepted the role of televising Canadian games on Saturday night, it just didn't generate good enough ratings; CBC carried the torch.

The times have changed though and with the emergence of the CTV - TSN - Sportsnet conglomerate during the Olympics, the support of CBC is waning.

The TV deal expires in 2014 and I would expect that there will be a structural change.. You can see it already happening with the regional arms of sportsnet carrying the bulk-load of the games now, but as much as I'm not a fan, CBC should be given their due for televising Canadian hockey when no one else would.

...Doug MacLean @ Sportsnet...the guy is a beauty, a former head coach that went to a SC Final (Lost) and is as 'folksy' and 'non-confrontational' as anyone...and a PEI native that is as Canadian as Cherry ever was ... Don Cherry will make only a few more gaffs until CBC will take him off the air citing political differences with management and the wider Toronto fan base...Don Cherry needs to step aside and make room for MacLean & MacLean ...

Doug MacLean is a clown, you listen to him like Pierre MacGuire to see what stupid thing comes out of his mouth next.

I know these guys won't become commentator for CBC, but guys like Pat Quinn is great as interview, love to see if he could do commentary. I always loved Phil Esposito commentary, but he's probably happy in Florida. Jeremy Roenick would irritate some, but I actually like his stick. He would probably even wear bad suits if he was contractually obligated. Even Milbury is ok once in a while. I think Tortz could do a great job, if he did not hate the media and stupid questions so much. Tortz has that firey attitude Don has.

Haha.. No I get it. I'm fed up with the status quo as well.. Don't get me wrong. I look forward to a change in format or the eventual relinquishing of the HNiC choke hold that CBC has.

I hate seeing Toronto on TV every Sat, and actually not even watch the game unless they are playing Cgy.

As per the 1.1 Billion CBC gets... I'm fully on board with getting rid of that. I don't believe or support it. If the station is so great and viable as it is, it should be able to survive in the market place like all the other stations. This subsidy crap has to end.

CBC sucks. Don't forget, they lost their song too. They seem to turn down the arena noise too. Give me a game on any other network. I can't stand most of the commentators on CBC and I can't even understand half of what Cherry says because he is always yelling and mispronouncing names.

Grapes is one of the best of all time! CBC needs more of Don and less of Hrudey. IMO I cannot stand Eliotte Friedmann, when the guy talks you can tell he has never played the game and has little to no understanding of it.

Are you for real? Ever read his 30 thoughts? They're as much a staple as this site.

I gave up on CBC after they wouldn't retain their anthem. What a joke. A cultural icon, and they said no???

No HD in the late game, Kevin Weekes is such a poser, and the Toronto-centric nature leaves me thinking that I am watching a game that doesn't matter (because it isn't Tor or Mtl), played by 11 goalies, since the only thing the colour guy talks about is "the stupendous save Khabbi made" as it trickles off his left skate on an icing call.

I gave up on CBC after they wouldn't retain their anthem. What a joke. A cultural icon, and they said no???

No HD in the late game, Kevin Weekes is such a poser, and the Toronto-centric nature leaves me thinking that I am watching a game that doesn't matter (because it isn't Tor or Mtl), played by 11 goalies, since the only thing the colour guy talks about is "the stupendous save Khabbi made" as it trickles off his left skate on an icing call.

HNIT.... Hockey Night in Toronto. Everyone else be damned.

I don't even watch HNIC anymore.... is Weekes still on it? I thought I saw him on the NHL Network.

I understand the frustration over the CBC's perceived Toronto bias but TO is the centre of the universe, New York with trees. Come and visit, after all Edmonton is, lets see, somewhere west of Guelph? By the way, do you know Frank? He is from Edmonton.